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United States Patent | 6,237,772 |
LaMarche ,   et al. | May 29, 2001 |
An assembly of interconnected containers includes a plurality of containers each of which has an upper portion connected to a lower portion by a hinge or hinges with the upper portion having a pair of elongated generally parallel upwardly open channels. The container also has a pair of generally parallel generally downwardly projecting flanges structured to engage an upwardly open channel of an adjacent container and adjacent containers have either at least one of the channels engaged by a flange of an adjacent container or at least one of its flanges engaged in a channel of an adjacent container or both. The channels are preferably open having at least one end so as to permit relative sliding removal and insertion of the containers from and into the assembly. In another embodiment, a rail and flange structure is provided to interengage adjacent containers within an assembly. A container can also be provided that has a lid portion hingably attached to the upper portion of the container. This "split" clamshell embodiment permits articles to be removed from the container without removal of the container from the assembly of interconnected containers. The containers may be transparent and molded as a unit with integrally formed hinges. Support structures may be provided within the container to support one or more articles disposed therein. Individual containers for use in such an assembly are disclosed.
Inventors: | LaMarche; Paul E. (Waterford, MI); Golani; Victor (Northville, MI); McCarthy; James P. (Milford, MI); Smith; James E. (Bruceton Mills, WV); Thompson; Gregory J. (Morgantown, WV) |
Assignee: | Neotech Industries, Inc. (Waterford, MI) |
Appl. No.: | 416651 |
Filed: | October 12, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: | 206/470; 206/471; 206/504; 206/509; 206/806 |
Intern'l Class: | B65D 073/00 |
Field of Search: | 206/464,465,468,470,471,404,509,775,776,806,508 220/4.22,4.23,4.26 446/72,73 |
2506844 | May., 1950 | Smith | 206/508. |
3401993 | Sep., 1968 | Fenkel | 206/508. |
3696966 | Oct., 1972 | Herolzer | 206/509. |
3701079 | Oct., 1972 | Bowden et al. | 206/508. |
5699925 | Dec., 1997 | Petruzzi | 220/4. |
5954203 | Sep., 1999 | Marconi | 206/464. |